Twenty Indiana County 4-H horse program members recently participated in 29 classes at the 54th annual State 4-H Horse Show held in Harrisburg. Events at the show tested skills in showmanship, equitation, jumping, driving and timed events in 52 performance and 90 production classes. The show featured nearly 800 exhibitors with 969 horses.

Two members returned home with three first-place awards in the horse production show. In this program, members breed, raise and train younger project animals. First-place awards went to Alexis Zaragoza, Morgan filly of this year and Morgan yearling filly, and Andrew Adams, quarter horse yearling filly. Third-place ribbons in the production show went to Haley Brooks, quarter horse 2-year-old gelding, and Angela Moretti, English pleasure 4-year-old futurity. Lauren Overdorff placed fourth in the English pleasure 4-year-old futurity. Fifth-place ribbons went to Emily Vojtek, quarter horse 3-year-old gelding, and Kayla Cahill, quarter horse filly of this year. Other finishers in production were Samantha Zaragoza, sixth, miniature horse 3-year-old filly; Alex Ruffner, sixth, quarter horse filly of this year; Tori Lichtenfels, eighth, miniature horse 2-year-old filly, and 10th, miniature horse 3-year-old gelding.

Several members also placed in performance classes, which include riding, jumping, and games. The three first-place winners from the county were Angela Moretti, Senior Western Horsemanship; Alexis Latson, Working Hunter Pony; and Haley Brooks, Junior Saddle Seat Equitation. In the English division, Latson was second, Junior Hunt Seat Equitation; fifth, Hunter Under Saddle Pony; and sixth, Hunter Hack Pony. Maggie Carty was second, Senior Hunt Seat Equitation Over Fences, and Brianna Dillon placed ninth, Hunter Hack Horse.

In the Saddle seat division, Alexis Zaragoza was second place in Junior Saddle Seat Equitation and third in Saddle Seat Pleasure Trotting. Lauren Overdorff was second in Senior Saddle Seat Equitation and seventh in Saddle Seat Pleasure Trotting. In Western classes, Khylee Maglione was sixth in Junior Western Pleasure Horse. James Barnhart won second place in Walk Trot Equitation Minimum Assistance in the Therapeutic Riding Division.

Leaders Angela Adams, Ethel Coleman, Pam Nealer, Beth Kobak, Stacy Ghiardi and Julie Moretti were 4-H leaders working with the county delegation. Adams coordinated stall decorations and Nealer assisted with show management by designing the jump courses and serving as a member of the State Horse Program Development Committee. Connie Winters of Winterfield Farms donated a basket for the silent auction. Class sponsors from the county were Indiana County 4-H Horse Clubs, Trailblazers 4-H Club and Donna Meyer. Two classes were sponsored in memory of Christy Nealer, former Indiana County 4-H member.

The state horse show culminates the year for 6,500 members enrolled in horse and pony clubs.